St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-03-30
STEWARD OF THE HOUSEHOLD.
An Important Member of the Off
cial Household of the President.


cial Household of the President.
Philadelphia Times.
The original organic act of the executive
establishment, dating back almost CELL
fury, in designating the personnel of what
was known as the ''otficial household of
the president" created the Office of ..stew-
ard of the household" The officer holding
that place was by law entrusted with the
plate and care of the furniture and effects
of the United States kept in the executive
mansion for the use of the president He
was required to give bonds for the faith full
performance of his trust. He also had
charge of the personal servants of the
president, made all purchases for the pres-
dents table, and performed such other
duties within the circle of the domestic life
OF the president as might be assigned him.
When Washington inaugurated his Off
cial household in New York under the act
of 1889 he made Samuel Faunce a local
celebrity as landlord and caterer, the
steward of his household. Faunce, during
portion of the period of the Revolution
ary war, had been landlord of the City tav-
ern, favOrite resort for officers of the
English forces during their occupancy of
the city and of the American officers when
the city passed into their hands
after peace. 1t was at the City
tavern, while Faunce was still
its landlord, that Washington and the Off
GERS Of his dsbanded army met, and where
the COMMANDMENTS of the Continental
forces took an affecting leave before his de-
parture for his home at Mount Vernon.
There has been steward of the presidents
household goods ever since, but the incum-
bent of the office has been changed as often
as there has been presidents. 1t is natural
that every president should desire so i'm
pOrtant and close position in his own per-
sonal household to be filled by some one
previously known to him.
When Grover Cleveland established him.
self in the executive mansion in March,
1885. he appointed William T. Sinclair. of
Buffalo. steward of the household. Sim
clair began life by assisting his father in the
care of public buildings in the Queen City
of the Lakes. 1t was in this capacity
twenty years ago, while having the care of
the Western Union building, in which were
the law offices of the Cleveland firm, that
he first met that member of it who is now
president of the United States. Since that
time Sinclair tried the hotel business at
Niagara Falls, which was not a success.
He spent some time on the lakes and in
hotels, connected with the stewards de-
partment. Later he was porter for the
United States Express company, and last
in the same capacity for the Bank of Com
merce. The fidelity and trustworthiness of
Sinclair had come under Mr.. Cleveland's
notice. When elected to the governorship
of New York he secured his services and
made him steward OF the executive man
sion at Albany. In March, 1885. he brought
him to Washington.
When the president proposes to give
state dinner or any other entertainment out
side of the established routine of the house
hold. he indicates the fact, designates the
number of the guests to be invited and the
hour for the dinner. A menue suitable to
the occasion is prepared by the
steward in consultation with the chef,
the latter arranging the courses of what
to consist, and the quantity of raw material
required. From this list the steward makes
his purchases. The articles are delivered to
the chef, and the menu is prepared. The
table is spread in the same way. The
steward apd his assistants arranged the
plates and glasses Tor The number of guests
to be entertained. The chef indicates the po-
sition Of his decorative pieces. The florist
is then called in to add the final touches of
floral decorations. To arrange table for
state occasion and to give it novelty is a
work of genius. The great feature Of the
official dining, next to the menus. of the
past season was the variety, taste and ele-
gance of the table equipment and decora-
ton. The social lunches given by Mrs.
Cleveland to her lady friends were also chef
d'9vreS in their way.
The usual daily routine of the household
is breakfast at 9, luncheon at 1:30, and
dinner at z. State dinners are usually an
nounced for 7:30 p. IN. The serving of
state dinner is in courses by ten or twelve
experienced colored walters in full dress
The additional number not permanently
in the mansion are taken from outside
but are regularly employed for such occa-
siOnS on account of their training in this
special service.
There is a mistaken notion that large
share of the official entertaining is paid for
out OF contingent fund voted for the pur-
pose. This is a mistake. Only the stew
ard of the household. the florist, doorkeep-
ers ushers. walters. laborers, and metro
politans, the furnishing, heating, and light
ing OF the mansion and maintenance of the
Conservatives are paid for out of funds
appropriated. Out of his salary of $780,
600 year the president pays for his
chef and assistants, for all his official
dinners as well as his private living, the
walters at his official or unofficial table, and
the female domestics in the private parts
of the mansion. He also pays out of his
own pocket for his private coachman, foot
men and stablemen. and the care of his
private horses. Such are the drains upon
the annual stipend allowed the President
out of the public treasury.
Fresh Oysters i'm England.
Pail Mall Gazette.
The first consignment of French oysters
for renlantinp arrived at Whitstahle from